Football Austin Lagesse, Bethel Director of Athletic Communications

Steve Johnson named AFCA Division III National Coach of the Year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Bethel University head football coach Steve Johnson was named the 2022 Division III National Coach of the Year, announced by the American Football Coaches Association Monday afternoon during the 2023 AFCA Convention.
 
Johnson receives the national honor for the first time in his career after being named Region 5 Coach of the Year for the third time back in December.
 
Completing his 34th season of coaching, Johnson led the Royals to a 10-3 mark that included a trip to the program's fifth quarterfinal appearance and 11th NCAA tournament appearance.
 
In his tenure, which began in 1989, he has compiled an all-time record of 244-108-1 (.693) making him the career wins leader among active coaches in Division III and 15th all-time. Under Johnson Bethel has only had two losing seasons.
 
The Royals produced 15 All-MIAC honorees this year and four honorable mention players. Senior quarterback Jaran Roste headlined the group by being named the MIAC Offensive Player of the Year while Devin Williams was named the inaugural Rookie of the Year.
 
The winners are selected by a vote of the Active AFCA members at four-year schools in the Association's five divisions. The AFCA has named a Coach of the Year since 1935. The AFCA Coach of the Year award is the oldest and most prestigious of all the Coach of the Year awards and is the only one chosen exclusively by coaches. The current balloting procedure involves a selection of 25 regional winners: five regional winners in each of the five divisions – FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA, who become finalists for national coach of the year. Following regional voting, five national winners – one from each division – are chosen.